Apparatus for writing checks



May 7, 1935. R. G. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR WRITING CHECKS Filed Oct. 23, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 2/ Russell G. Thompson :8 BY: g

A T ORNE'Y May 7, 1935. R. e. THOMPSON 2,000,201

APPARATUS FORWRITING CHECKS Filed Oct. 23, 1931 s Sheets-Sheet 2 [N VENTOR l! 6. am 5021 7 B g Passe 771 A TTORNEY May 7, 1935. R. G. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR WRITING CHECKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 23, 1931 1-. INVENTOR B y 2 Russell 6. Thom 03m A A TTORNE Y Patented May 7, 1935 PATENT OFFICE I APPARATUS FOR WRITING CHECKS Russell G. Thompson, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Electromatic Typewriters, Inc., Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 23, 1931, Serial No. 570,599

7 Claims. (01. 197-6) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for indelibly filling in the blank spaces in bank checks, notes and other documents, and to so impress the written matter into the paper that it is impossible of alteration or erasure.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of apparatus of this kind which is simple, and whereby the written characters are produced on both the front and back and through the sheet. i

of apparatus for filling in blank spaces in a work piece by applying an inking or pigmenting medium to both sides thereof and impressing the pigment from both of said mediums onto the surfaces of the work piece and into and through the body thereof. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple apparatus for feeding a work sheet between two inking devices, one of which may be the usual inking ribbon of a typewriting machine while the other is a ribbon or other inking device or carbon sheet arranged on the platen and between it and the work sheet.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus comprising a typewriting machine arranged to feed a work sheet between two inking devices at the printing point and having means for moving the type bars to make two successive impressions at the same point thereon, one of which is made in the absence of one of said ribbons.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this kind comprising a platen, an inking ribbon on the platen, a separate ribbon, means for feeding a work sheet between the separate ribbon and the platen, a ribbon vibrator for the separate ribbon, means for moving the type bars to make two successive impressions at the same point on the work sheet, means being provided for silencing the ribbon vibrator during one of said impressions so that the the work sheet directly. I

A still further object ofthe invention-is the provision ofa device of this kind comprising a platen I having an inking ribbon thereon,'a ribbon separate from the platen, means for feeding a work s eet betwe'en said separate ribbon andthe ribbon on the platen, means-being provided onthe type I bars'for cutting into and through the work sheet so that the ink from said'ribbonspenetrates' into andthrou'gh the body of'the .work sheet.

Tothesean'd other ends,'the.invention consists) I I I I I I II I drive it w thsmat if, mpa asain tji rib on, a e; when. e ihaf ima aa as m 55 in the construction and -arrangement of .part s that will appear from the following description type bar strikes therefrom intoand throughthe body of the work when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is atransverse section showing so much 5 of a typewriting machine as is necessary to illustrate one possible embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary inverted plan view, partly in section, of the carriage rack and escape- I ment devices cooperating therewith; Another object of the invention is the provision Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the rack and cooperating pawls;

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 butshowing parts in another position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in still another position, the pawls beingbroken away and the rack omitted; I

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the 'escapement pawls and operating devices associated therewith; I 0

Fig. 7 is a detail view of ribbon vibrating devices shown in Fig. 1, parts being removed for clearness; I

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the platen, part being broken away to conserve space;

. Fig. 9 is a. front elevation of the type somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same, also enlarg'ed;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged face view of a fragment of a work sheet, and 1 Fig. 12 is a reverse'view of the same.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement on the invention disclosed in an application filed by me on or about August 10, 1931, for Typewriting machines, Serial No. 556,095. In said application, the types are engaged successively with the same point on the work sheet, one engagement being made in the absence of the inking ribbon so that the type engages the work sheet directly to cut the surface; thereof, the other impression being mad through the ribbon to print' on the work shee and drive the ink sheet. I I I The present; invention" contemplates the use of a ribbonor other inking deviceonthe platen I behind the work, sheet in addition to' the' 'usual ribbon, that impressions l' are made therefrom on the. hacker reverse 'side offthe work sheet. The also n age the work sheet successively at th sa e point 'la st onc m h abse of the. f sua r bb to j ut the wo ks e t. d

through the usual ribbon to simultaneously impress the same printed characters from both ribbons on opposite sides of the sheet and impress the ink into the body of the work sheet. Special types are also employed which are provided with pin points adapted to cut through the work sheet and engage the ribbon in rear thereof and carry ink therefrom into the body of the sheet when the types are withdrawn. Such types also serve to drive and carry ink from the usual ribbon into the body of the work sheet.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the invention is illustrated embodied in a power driven typewriting machine of well known form comprising pivoted type bars I, having types 2, and mounted in a type basket 3 for movement to and from operative engagement with a platen 4 or a work sheet arranged thereon. The usual type guide 5 is mounted on the type basket and arranged adjacent the printing point on the platen. The platen 4 is mounted on a carriage 6 movable in transverse guideways I on the frame for letter and word spacing.

Power driven means are provided for actuating the type bars to and from the printing point on the platen, comprising a power driven roller 8 with which a cam 9 cooperates to actuate a bell crank lever ID on which the cam is pivoted. The bell crank lever I is pivoted on a common pivot rod H and has an arm arranged adjacent the power driven roller on which the cam is mounted. The cam 9 is normally free from the roller 8, but a spring-pressed arm l2 mounted on the bell crank I0 engages a lug or projection on the cam and tends to turn it into engagement with the roller or a stop lug I3 thereon into engagement with a stop 14 on a stop lever I pivoted on the bell crank Ill. The stop lever l5 has an offset portion or lug which is engaged in the slotted end of an arm IS on a key lever I! pivoted on the common pivot rod l8. The key lever has a key l9 thereon whereby it may be manually operated against the tension of a spring 20 which resiliently retains it in normal elevated position. A link 2| connects an arm of the bell crank ID with an arm of a bell crank lever 22 also pivoted on the common pivot rod I 8, and operatively connected with an arm of a toggle lever 23 by means of a link 24. The toggle lever 23 is pivoted to a toggle link 25 pivoted on a fixed part and also pivotally connected withthe type bar. A spring 26 connects the bell crank 22 with a fixed part and resiliently retains it and the parts connected therewith in normal position.

The cam 9 has two lobes so that the bell crank Ill is operated twice during each complete rotation thereof. When the key is depressed, it swings the stop lever l5 to release the cam, which turns into engagement with the power driven roller under the action of the spring-pressed arm l2. The cam turns through a complete rotation, each of its lobes operating to swing the bell crank, and at the end of its complete rotation, the stop lug l3 again engages the stop ll on the stop lever if the key be released, or if the key be held depressed, said lug engages a'stop 21 on the stop lever which is moved from its pathwhen the key is released and the stop ll moved into its path. The bell crank operates the'bell crank 22 through the link 2| 'topull the link-'24 to swing the toggle lever 23 in a direction to break the toggle and :swing the type bar into engagement with the-platemi SinceEthe cam 9-makes a com plete rotation, during which each lobe operates 'brou'ght'about by the following devices. pawls are provided with shoulders 43 and 44 at or adjacent theirfreeends, which are arranged to the bell crank ID, the type bar will make two impressions on the work sheet when the key is depressed.

In order that the two impressions may be made in exactly the same place on the work sheet, means are provided for operating the escapement devices only once during each depression of a key or during the two operations of the type bar, the carriage remaining at rest during such operations. The escapement devices comprise a rack 3| having teeth arranged two-letter space distance apart and secured to the carriage, which is resiliently moved for letter spacing by the usual spring drum 32. A pair of pawls 33 and 34 have elongated slots whereby they are pivotally and slidably mounted on a fixed part of the frame. Weak springs 35 connect the pawls with a fixed part and tend to slide them on their pivot over the teeth of the ratchet and swing them into engagement therewith. One of the pawls is longer than the other so that only one engages a tooth of the rack at one time, the tension of the carriage spring being operative to slide it into engagement with its pivot. Means are provided for disengaging the pawl from the rack to permit the carrier to move into engagement with the other pawl and to move said other pawl into engagement with its pivot at the end of a letter space movement. To this end, the other ends of the pawls are arranged in the path of an escapement lever 36 which is loosely mounted on an elongated stud 31 secured in a bracket 38 projecting from the frame of the machine. A spring 39 is coiled about the stud and resiliently retains the lever at one end of its bearing against the shoulder 3! and in a plane arranged at substantially right angles to the axis thereof. By this arrangement, the escapement lever swings in a plane at right angles to the axis of the stud or to an inclined position against the tension of its spring, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. By reference to Fig. 3, in which position the lever 36 is held against the shoulder 3'1 by spring 39, it will be noted that the free end of the pawl which engages the rack projects beyond the end of the other pawl and into the path of the escapement lever when said lever is in its normal position at right angles to the axis of the stud, and if the lever be actuated at this time, it engages the pawl to release it from the rack to permit the carriage to move forwardly under the action of its spring. The escapement lever 36 is operated in the usual manner by'the universal bar 4|, best shown in Fig. 1. The universal bar is resiliently mounted on the type basket and projects forwardly therefrom into the paths of the type bars to be actuated thereby each time a type bar is actuated into engagement with the platen. A link 42 operatively connects the universal bar with the escapement lever so that the latter is actuated each time a type bar moves into engagement with the universal bar. Means are provided for moving the escapement lever to the inclined position shown in Figs. 6 and 4 during the first stroke of the type bar, in which position its path of movement is free of the pawl so that the latter is not actuated thereby to space the carriage and consequently the carriage is not moved for letter spacing and the second stroke of the type bar engages the work sheet in exactly the same place.

This movement of the escapement lever is The engage an arm 45 formed by a U-shaped opening in the free end of an interponent 46 pivoted on a fixed part. A coiled spring 41 connects the interponent with a fixed part and tends to resiliently swing the interponent in a direction to move its arm 45 toward the shoulders on the escapementpawls. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, at which time the escapement lever 36 engages a short arm 48 formed by the U-shaped opening in the interponent opposite the arm 45 and is tilted or inclined on its bearing away from the ends of the pawls, if a key be depressed to operate a type bar, the escapementlever movesoif the arm 43 but does not engage the free end of the pawl which.

engages the rack. The spring 39,,however, operates to swing the escapement lever on its pivot toward the ends of the pawls and over the pointed edge of the arm 48 so that when it returns under the action of the universal bar it enters the U- sfhaped opening in the interponent and occupies the position shown in Fig. 3, this being its normal free position against the shouldei 31. Upon the second actuation of the type bar, the escapement lever is again actuated and now moves into engagement with thefree end of the pawl which engages the rack and releases it therefrom to permit the carriage to move for letter spacing. At the same time, the pawl is moved forwardly over the rack under the action of its spring 35, and the interponent moves with the pawl under the action of the spring 41 to the position shown in Fig. 5, in which the pawls and interponent are in their extreme positions and the escapement lever has returned to a position on the outerside of the arm 48 the escapement lever being then in its normal free position against the shoulder 31. When the rack on the catriage engages the other pawl, it moves the pawl and with it the interponent in the direction of the carriage movement and swings the escapement lever to a position beyond the end of the pawl which now engages the rack or to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. It will be noted that the pawls 33 and 34 and the interponent 45 are relatively light while the carriage is relatively heavy and ofiersconsiderable resistance to movement under the action of the spring drum due to inertia. As a result, when the partsare in the Fig. 3 position and the lever 36 is operated, the spring 35 operates to move the pawl 34, and the spring 41 swings the interponent to the Fig. 5 position before the spring drum overcomes the inertia of the carriage to move it for letter spacing.

In filling in the blank spaces in checks and similar papers, better results are to be had if the type strikes the work sheet once in the absence of the ribbon so that it may freely cut through, perforate or shred the worksheet, another impression being made through the ribbon to apply the pigment to the cut, perforated or shredded portion of a character which penetrates the body of the work sheet at or adjacent such portion and prints the character on the front face of the sheet. To this end, means are provided for rendering the ribbon vibrator ineflfective upon one stroke of the type bar and operating it to interpose the ribbon between the printing point on the work sheet and the type bar during another stroke of the type bar. The ribbon vibrator 5! is slidably mounted on the type basket or the type guide thereon to move'to a point above the type guide to project the ribbon carried thereby over the printing point on the platen or a work sheet thereon. The ribbon vibrator has a downwardly projecting arm 52 pivoted at its lower end to the free end of a lever 53 pivoted at 54 on a fixed part of the frame. The lever 53 is operatively connected with a stud 55 by means of the link 55. The stud 55 is arranged in the slot of a slotted actuator 51 pivotally mounted on a stud and having an openbranched slot 58. The arm 53 is limited in its movement by a stop arm or post 59 projecting upwardly from a fixed part. When the parts are adjusted for printing from the lower band of a bichrome ribbon, as shown in Fig. 1, the stud 55 occupies its outermost position in the slot, which is farthest from the axis of the actuator, so that a given movement of the actuator imparts the greatest throw to the vibrator at this time to move the ribbon through the greatest path to move its lower band to the printing point.

Manual means are provided for adjusting the stud in its slot for printing from the upper band of the ribbon or for silencing the vibrator, as for stencilling. The stud 55 is connected with an arm 6| fixed on a rock shaft 62 by means of a link 63. An arm 64 is also fixed to the rock shaft 62 and has its free end pivotally connected with the rear end of a push rod 65 slidably mounted in the frame and extending forwardly to a point adjacent the keyboard and has a button or key 66 mounted on its forward end whereby it may be manually operated. A spring-pressed detent 61 is mounted on the frame and resiliently engages one or another of a plurality of notches in the push rod for retaining it in adjusted position.

When the push rod is moved inwardly from 'the position shownin Fig 1, the rock shaft 62 is turned in a direction to move the stud inwardly in its slot to a position in alinement with its lower branch 68, at which timethe actuator is ineffective to move the vibrator, and the types strike the work sheet directly, as in stencilling. Further inward movement of the push rod serves to swing the stud 55 into the upper branch 69 of the slot nearer the axis of the actuator, so that when the actuator is operated the vibrator is moved to a lesser extent to move the upper band of the ribbon to the printing point on the platen, which band may be of a different color from the lower band.

A universal bar H is arranged in the paths of the bell crank levers 22 and pivoted on a fixed part so that it swings each time a bell crank is actuated to operate a type bar. The universal bar has a rearwardly projecting arm 12 which is operatively connected with devices for swinging the actuator 51 on alternate strokes of the universal bar. A spring 13 connects an arm III on the universal bar with a fixed part and resiliently presses the universal bar into engagement with the bell crank levers 22. The arm 12 is operatively connected with an arm 14 pivotally mounted on the stud 60 concentric with the actuator by means of a link 16. Mounted on the same stud or pivot rod 60 is a cam or star wheel 11 having a ratchet wheel 18 secured to or formed integral therewith. A spring-pressed detent 19' engages the ratchet wheel and retains the star wheel against free rotation on its pivot. A spring-pressed pawl 8! is mounted on the arm I4 and arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel. When .a bell crank lever 22 is actuated, it operates to swing the arm 14 in a clockwise direction, as seen in the drawings, and the pawl turns the ratchet wheel through a distance of one tooth; upon the return stroke, the pawl moves idly over the tooth of the ratchet. A bell crank lever 82 is pivoted on a fixed part and has one arm connected with the actuator by means of a link 83. The other arm of the bell crank has a wiper or follower M on its free end which is arranged to engage the periphery of the star wheel 11. A spring connects the bell crank 82'with a fixed part and resiliently engages its wiper with the star wheel. A fixed stop 86 arranged in the path of the bell crank limits its movement under the action of the spring. When the universal bar is operated to turn the star wheel, the wiper moves over the arms of the star wheel and swings the bell crank, which in turn swings the actuator to operate the ribbon vibrator. From an inspection of Fig. 1 of the drawings,-it will be noted that the arrangement of the teeth of the ratchet wheel is such that the arms on the star wheel are two-teeth distance apart, so that upon. one

actuation of the universal bar the star wheel moves a depression between two arms past the wiper and any movement imparted to the latter is ineifective to operate the actuator and the ribbon vibrator; upon the next tooth movement of the ratchet wheel, however, an arm of the star wheel moves past the wiper and it is actuated to swing theactuator to operate the ribbon vibrator.

The apparatus thus described is operative to make two successive impressions from the same type on the work sheet and in exactly the same place on the work sheet, so that they are superimposed upon each other. During the first of these impressions, the ribbon is absent from the printing point and the type strikes the work sheet directly and cuts or perforates it; during the second of these impressions the ribbon vibrator is operated to move the ribbon to the printing point to print on the face of the work sheet and at the same time penetrate the ink from the ribbon into the previously cut or perforated parts of the work sheet. In the present embodiment-the types 2 are shown as perforating types comprising spaced points 9| which cut entirely through or perforate the work sheet when engaging the latter-in the absence of the ribbon, and which cut through the ribbon when engaging the work sheet therethrough and carry the ink or pigment from the ribbon to the work sheet and into the previously cut portions thereof. While in the embodiment shown and described the first impression of the type bar is made in the absence of the ribbon, good results are posible if the first impression is made through the ribbon, and the ribbon vibrator may be operated on either stroke of the type bar without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to make alteration of the printed check or other work sheet even more diflicult, the present invention contemplates the simultaneous printing of the reverse side of the work sheet. To this end, a ribbon is arranged to the rear of the work sheet and between it and the platen so that the type impressions are printed on the reverse side of the work sheet simultaneously with the printing on the front side thereof, as shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings. In the illustrated embodiment, a ribbon 92, see Figs. 1 and 8, is mounted directly on the platen and secured thereto so that the work sheet is arranged thereon with its reverse side directly in contact therewith. By this arrangement, the type impressions are produced simultaneously on, both front and reverse sides of the work sheet and the ink or pigment from the ribbon on the platen also enters those portions of the work sheet which the type cuts therethrough. Moreover, the pointed types pass through the work sheet and into the ribbon on the platen, and when withdrawn carry ink from said ribbon onto the reverse side of the work sheet and into the perforations produced thereby.

Although only one type bar and key lever for operating the same are shown in the drawings, it will be understood that the usual or any desired number of type bars and key levers may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In writing in the amounts in the blank spaces of a number of checks, it is frequently desirable to keep a record of the total of the amounts written, and to this end a totalizer of well known form may be arranged to be operated once during a depression of a key lever. Such a device will be specifically described in an application to be filed.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim: r

1. A machine for writing checks or the like by ink-printing on both sides of the paper and impregnating the paper with the ink from both sides thereof comprising a frame, a platen thereon, an inking ribbon secured to the platen to move therewith and arranged to engage the reverse side of a work sheet thereon, a type bar movable to and from printing engagement with the platen or the work sheet thereon, a second inking ribbon positionable between the type bar and the work sheet, and perforating types on the. type bar for perforating the work sheet and penetrating the ribbon on the platen and operative to carry ink from said ribbons to the work sheet when withdrawn therefrom.

2. A machine for writing checks or the like by ink-printing on both sides of the paper and impregnating the paper with the ink from both sides thereof comprising a frame, a platen thereon, an inking ribbon secured to the platen to move therewith and arranged to engage the reverse side of a work sheet arranged thereon, a type bar movable to and from printing engagement with the platen or the work sheet thereon, a second inking ribbon, a ribbon vibrator for moving the second inking ribbon to and from the printing point onthe platen, and perforating types on the type bar for perforatingthe work sheet and penetrating the ribbon on the platen and operative to carry ink from the ribbons'to the work sheet and into the perforations formed therein.

3, The combination with a frame, a carriage movable thereon for letter spacing, a platen on the carriage, an inking ribbon positioned between the platen and the work sheet, a type bar, means for operating the type bar to make at least two successive engagements with the platen, a second inking ribbon, a ribbon vibrator for moving the last mentioned ribbon to and from the printing point on the platen, means for effectively operating the ribbon vibrator on alternate strokes of the type bar, escapement devices for controlling the movement of the carriage for letter spacing, means for operating the escapement devices on alternate strokes of the type bar so that the type bar engages the same portion of the work sheet at least twice in succession, and perforating types on the type bar for perforating the work sheet on one operation thereof and printing the work sheet and transferring ink from the ribbons to the perforations formed therein on another operation thereof.

4. The combination with a frame, of a carriage thereon, a platen on the carriage, an inking ribbon positioned between the platen and the work sheet, a type bar movable into printing engagement with the platen, perforating types on the type bar, a second inking ribbon, a ribbon vibrator for moving the last mentioned ribbon to and from the printing point on the platen, meansoperable to move the ribbon vibrator to theprinting point on the platen on alternate strokes of the type bar, escapement devices for the carriage, and means for actuating the. escapement devices on alternate strokes of the type bar.

5. The combination with a frame, of a carriage thereon, a platen on the carriage, an inking ribbon positioned between the platen and the work sheet, a type bar, perforating types on the type bar, means for moving the type bar into printing engagement with the platen, a second inking ribbon, a ribbon vibrator for moving the last mentioned ribbon to and from the printing point on the platen, a universal bar, means connecting said universal bar with the ribbon vibrator effective to move the ribbon vibrator to the printing point on the platen on alternate operations of the universal bar, escapement devices for the carriage, and means for actuating the escapement devices on alternate strokes of the typ bar.

6. The combination with a frame, of a carriage movable thereon for letter spacing, a platen on the carriage, an inking ribbon surrounding and secured to the platen, a type bar movable to and from printing engagement with the platen, perforating types on said type bar, escapement devices for controlling the movement of the carriage for letter spacing, a universal bar operatively connected with said escapement devices, and means for rendering said universal bar ineffective to operate the escapement devices on alternate strokes thereof.

7. The combination witha frame, of a carriage thereon, a platen on'the carriage, an inking ribbon surrounding and secured to the platen, a type bar, perforating types on said type bar, means for moving the type bar successively into engagement with the platen, escapement devices for control ling the movement of the carriage for letter spacing, and means for rendering said escapement devices inefiective on alternate strokes of the type bar.

RUSSELL G. THOMPSON. 

